Apparatus for making animated pictures



May 19, 1931'. A. w. CARPENTER APPARATUS FOR 'MAKING ANIMATED PICTURES s Shets-Sheet' 1 Filed June 18, 1927 I mvaNTok I Ar/fiurl kfizpen/er ATTORNEY5 May 19, 1931. A. w. CARPENTER APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANIMATED PICTURES Fi1ed June 1a, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 4 Arlflurflflmpevler ATTORNEY-5 May 19, 1931.

A. W. CARPENTER APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANIMATED PICTU-RES Filed June 18. 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ari/501 11412 ipe'n'fer ATTORNEYS May 19,- 1931. A. v}. CARPENTER v APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANIMATED PICTURES Filed June 18, 1927 8 Sheets-She t 4 ATTORNEYS I Y 1931-. A. w. CARPENTER 805,511

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANIMATED PICTURES Filed June 18, 1927 s Shets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS y 1931'- A. w. CARPENTER 1,805,511

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANIMATED PICTURES Filed June 18, 1927 a Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR JFQ U ATTORNEYS May 19, 1931.

A. w. CARPENTER 1,805,511

I APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANIMATED PICTURES I Filed June 18, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 I BYE ATTORNEY-S y 1931- A. w. CARPENTER 1,805,511

' APPARATUS FOR MAKING ANIMATED PICTURES v Filed June 18, 1927 F 'y.2Z

8 Sheets-Sheet 8 'INVENTOR 205 2127/12 QIpen/er ATTORNEYS 'ratus;

Patented May 19, 1931.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR WILTSEE CABPENTm NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN'OB, BY ILESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 AUDIO-CINEMA, INOO RPORATED OI LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW max. A

conroaarron or new YORK BPARA'IUS FOR MAKING ANIMATED Hm application filed June 18, 1827. Serial No. 199,728.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the production of that class of motion pictures known as animated ictures. In the making of a projection film or such pictures,

' a series of ictures are executed representing a moving 0 ect 1n advanced positions in sucv ber of photogra 'hing operations required to produce such a lm. Other objects will appear hereinafter. In the drawings: 20 .Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved photographing apparatus Fig. 2 a side elevaticnof said apparatus;

Fig. 3 avertical section taken on the line 3-3 of F1 1 1 v 25 Fig. 4 a fiorizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fi 1; v

Fig. 5 a etail plan view upon a larger scale ShOWIIIg a counting device forming part 0 the apparatus; 1 v

Fig. 6a front view of saidcounting device,

so partly broken away;

' Fig. 7 a detail lan view of an index device for'adjusting the camera shutter;

Fig. 8 a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig; 7; v

Fig. 9 a detail view showing the manner of mounting a drawing board in the apparatus as a support for a picture to be hotographed; Fig. 10 a detail plan view of the p aten device for supporting a picture .in the appa- Fig-11 a-vertical section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10 with the presserlid closed;

. Fig. 12 a plan view on a smaller scale show- 'ing'a difierentadjustmen't of the platen parts, and-the manner of attaching a picture-index thereto; i

, Figs. 13 and 14 enlarged detail sections taken on the lines 13-13 and 14-14 respece 6 Q"tively of Fig. 12;

-transmission mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a side view showing the power transmission mechanism for operating the camera;

Fig. 16 a top plan view of the transmission mechanism wlth arts broken away;

Fig. 17 a deta1l section taken on the line 17-17 of Fig..15-;

- Fig. 18 a section taken on the line 1818 of Fig. 16 and showing one adjustment of the Fig.19 a similar view showing another adjustment of said mechanism;

Fig. 20 a perspectiveview of meansproviding for the manual rotation of the camera shutter independently of the power driven means;

Figs. 21 and 22 longitudinal sections of 7 said shutter-rotating means showing two different adjustments; thereof;

Fig. 23 a transv rse section taken line 23-'23 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 24 a, side view of the interior mechanism of the camera;

Fig. 24' a view of'the opposite side of said interior mechanism;

Fi 25 a diagrammatic view illustrating an a aption of the apparatus for carrying on the f out a method of photographing animate pictures;

26 a diagrammatic view illustrating anot er adaptation of the apparatus;

Fig. 27 a side view of the camera magazines mounted in the camera casin and provided with improved means for c osing the film slots; 4

Fig. 28a bottom plan view of the magazines showin the film slotsclosed; I Fi 29 a agmentary bottom plan showin 't e'film slots opened;

' .i 30 a vertical section taken on'the'line 30-15) of Fig. 27-with the camera door open;

' Fig. 81 a similar view showing thecamera door closed; and 1 Fi 32 .a fragmentary front view showing t e fastening means for holding the door 05 closed. q

' Referring by numerals to the mucus parts,

v the improved photographing apparatus 1nunions. Certain of the pipe sections are disposed to form four upright corner posts or legs 2. Each post is formed of a plurality of sections connected by a threaded lower unions 3. Each member 5 comprises two pipe sections joined by a union 6. A rear stiffening member 7 extends between the rearposts, is connected .to the unions 3 of said posts and comprises three threaded pipe sections joined by unions 8. Extending between the side members 5 and the rear member 7 are two diagonally disposed stiffening members 9 connected to the unions 6 and 8 by means'of threaded unions 10 and short pipe sections 11. Each diagonal stiffening member comprises two pipe sections joine by a threaded coupling 12.- At theu per ends of the posts 2 are assembled a ront frame member 13, a rear member 14 and side members '15 dis osed to define a horizontal, rectangular tab support, and connected to the posts by threaded unions 16. The front member 13 comprises a single pipe section. The rear member 14 is formed of three pipe sections connected by threaded unions 17, and each side member 15 comprises three pipe sections joined by threaded unions 18. Upon these four members is mounted a table 19 in the form of a metalplate secured to the mem- 'bers by screws.

From the sidemembers 15 extend two u end members are joined b corner unions 23 and provide a supporting rame for-a camera supporting plate or platform 24 secured to sai frame by screws. Joined tothe unions 17 and to the two rear unions 23 are two vertical parallel rear members 25 and 26 formed of threaded pipe sections and extending, above and'below' the unions 23 and 17 respectively. Between the tables or plates 19 and'24 the members 25' and 26 are connected by a sheet metal web 27 which is folded around said members at its edges. A sheet metal shield plate or web 28 is secured by screws-to the rear ones of said upwardly converging members 20 and extends-a material distance downwardly from the upper ends of said members. Secured by screws to each pair of members 20 is a sheet metal shield 29'which extends the under faces of the webs.

between the members of the pair for the greater portion of their length.

The pipe sections in the frame structure are formed with right and left hand threads at their opposite ends respectively. The frame may, therefore, be tensioned at any p elint by turning one of the pipe sections.

- e upper portion .of the frame is roperly tensioned when first assembled. en the various plates and sheets 19, 24, 27, 28 and 29 are secured in place this tension .will be maintained. The lower part of the frame may be readily tensioned by applying a wrench to the couplings 12 in the diagonal members 9. By turning the couplings 4 the posts 2 may be longitudinally adjusted.

The table 19 is centrally formed with a rectangular opening 30 of material area. A platen structure for supporting a. picture sheet, is mounted upon the table and extends over said opening. This platen structure comprises an outer, rigid,-shell-like, rectan 4 lar metal frame 31 of material height wh ch rests upon the table around the margin of the 'openin 30 and is secured in place by screws 32. e' upper horizontal portion of the frame is formed to define a rectangular opening 33 materially smaller than the table opening'30. Removably and adjustably fitting within the opening 33 and of substantially the same area, is a rectangular inner platen frame 34. The outer frame 31 is formed at its four corners with webs 35 which extend diagonally inward to points beneath the corhereof the frame 34. The inner ends of said webs are enlar' ed and each is formed with a vertical threa ed aperture 36- Threaded upwardly through t ese apertures to points above the ends of the webs are four supporting and ad'usting screws 37 which form posts upon whi e the platen frame 34 rests loosely and by means of which it ma be adjusted ver-' -tically and 'levelled or inc "ed as desired.

The screws extend a materialdistance below the table, are formed at their lower ends with ;wing heads, and have check nuts 38 threaded upon them and ada ted to contact e inner platen frame 34 is horizontal and defines a rectanglular aperture 39, and the upper face .of the ame is countersunk around the aperture to forms. marginalle'd 40. Aremovable-metal plate 41 fits neatly ii the countersink of the frame and rests upon the led e 40; This plate and ,-the frame are both at and their upper surfaces are flush with each other. The

frame 34 carries a plurality of rigid, upstanding, peg-like centering projections 42 arranged in a row adjacent the rear edge of the plate 41. Resting upon the frame and the plate, and covering the upper surfaces thereof is a rectangular pad 43 of compressible material 'such as soft rubber.

The outer frame 31 is formed adjacent its rear cornerswith two upstanding pivot ears no ms presser device which is ada ted to fold down over the compressible pa '43. The under face of the plate projects beyond the faceof the frame to contact with a pad.-

sheet and the upstanding projections 42 extend through openings in the pad and above a the up er surface thereof to enter apertures forms in the picture sheet and hold the sheet centered and ma proper position upon the pad. Adjacent its rear edge the glass late is formed with apertures 48 to provide 0 earance for the ends of the projections 42. The plate is also provided with similar apertures 49 adjacent its forward edge for a purpose which will be hereinafter set forth. At its forward edge the presser frame45 is pro: vided with a handle'r'od 50 for pressing the lid down.

To the under face of the presser frame 45 is secured a slightly flexible and resilient metal clip strip 51 which extends substantially the full width of the frame, alon side the forward edge of the glass plate. t its ends this strip is secured to the frame by bolts 52 which extend up through openings 52 in the frame and have nuts 53 threaded uponthem. One of these nuts -.is'of.a form to be conveniently turned by hand so that said strip forms an adjustable resilient clip or holder extending substantially the full width of the frame. Interposed between the strip 51 and the frame is a spacin strip 54 of suitable material. The oppose faces of the two strips are substantially flush with the upper surface of the pad 43 when the presser device is folded down. The purp of the clipstrip 51 is to adjustably attach a picture element such'as a pointer 55 to the presser frame, said pointer'to. extend between the glassand a pad. The strip may turning, the hand nut 58. The picture sheet is photographed through the glass plate and in order to pro rly define an'exposure aperture and exc ude the margins of the sheet and. the projections 42 from the photographed picture, an o aque coating 56'is applied to one or both aces of the glass plate around the margins thereof. y

The plate 24 supported at the upper end of the frame structure forms a platform for the support of a motion picture camera 57.

The camera is rigidly supported upon the 5" platform with its lens 57' directed down .from a plate 63 mounted upon gecture sheet upon the readily loosened to: permit the insertion of the index member by the spring wardly toward the center of the platen structure. Mounted upon the platform 24, to the rear of the camera, is an electric motor 58 foroperatin the camera. A power transmission mec anism connects the motor and camera (Figs. 2 and 15). This mechanism includes a* worm 59 keyed to the motor shaft 58 and meshing with a worm gear 60. The gear 60 is keyed to a shaft 61 which is supported by bearings 62 extending upwardly t e platform 24. A clutch sleeve 64 is rotatably mounted the bearings 62.- At one side of said bearwheel 65 and a bevel wheel 66- at one face of the s rocket wheel. The camera is provided with an operating or drive shaft 67' upon which a sprocket wheel 68 ismounted. As willbe described later, the wheel 68 is normally connected to the shaft 67 to rotate with it. A driving chain 69 is trained around the sprocket wheels 65 and 68.

The sleeve 64 to which the wheel 65 is connected is provided with a shiftable key 70. This key is engaged by a spring 71 which tends to press it into a key slot in the shaft 61 and lock the sleeve to the shaft. The sleeve is formed with an enlarged circular cam face 72 a portion 73 of which is flattened. The key is adapted to extend out through a slot in said flattened portion. A pair of clutch releasing rock arms 7 4 and 75 are disposed at opposite sides of the sleeve 64. The said rock arms extend aboveand below the sleeve are pivotally connected to the plate 63 at their r .u outhe shaft.61 and extends through one The pad provides a support'for a picture of lower ends and are connected together at their upper ends by a contractile spring 7 6. Rotatably carried by the rock arms are rollers 77 and 78 which are adapted to engage the cam face 7 2 at diametrically opposite points. One or the other of said rollers is\ always in roller is held away from the cam face by a lock-out member 79 which is rockably mounted upon the sleeve 64 andadapted to-be selectively engaged with either of the arms 74 or 75 to hold it away from the sleeve against the resistance of the spring 7 When engagement with the cam face. The other e motor.

tated. When the said roller is moved free I from the flattened portion of the can face.

slot and locks the sleeve to the shaft. .The camera will then, be operated through the sprocket wheel65 and the chain 69.

A short rock shaft 80 is mounted upon the plate- 63 below the sleeve 64' and'between the 71 snaps the key into the shaftl rock arms 74 and 75. Ri idly secured to said rock shaft is an upwar 1y extend-in bifurcated member 81 which is adapte to be rocked into engagement with pins 74', 75

carried by the rock arms 74 and 75 to rock either arm away from the sleeve. An upwardly extending arm 82 is also rigidly se-' cured to the rock shaft 80. Supported'by the platform 24 and spaced outwardly from the rear edge thereof isa bearing .83 in which is mounted a short rock shaft 84. A disk 85 is rigidly carried by the shaft 84 and has a diametrically extending groove 86, formed connected at its lower en to a pulley 90. A

the arm 75, away from the sleeve 64 and percable 91 is trained over pulley and connected at its ends to a U-shaped treadle 92 rockably mounted upon the rear frame member 7. Another cable 93 is anchored at one end to the table 19 and at its other endis connected by means of a spring 94 to a downwardly extending eye 95 carried by the disk 85. Connected to the disk at a point located diametrically opposite the eye 95 is a reach rod 96 the opposite end of which is connected to the rock arm 82. The tension of the spring 94 normally holds the disk 85 in a position with the groove 86 and arm 87 disposed horizontally. In this position of the disk the treadle 92 is held elevated by the cable 88, the'rock arm 82 is held vertical by the reach rod 96 and the bifurcated member 81 is held in a neutral position out of contact with the pins 74 and 7 5. (Figs.'15, 18 and 19). v

When the. treadle is stepped upon, the member 81 is rocked to swing the arm 74, or

mit the key 70 to lock the shaft 61 to the sleeve and effect a driving connection between the motor and the camera. The camera will then be operated to make one exposure. The arm 87 is pivoted in the disk slot 86 to give it two adjustments as indicated in Fi 15 and 17 and determine the direction in which the releasing member 81 is rocked when the" treadle is depressed. "When the arm is adjusted to the left as shown in Fig.

' 15, the member 81 will be rocked to the left to act upon the left roller-carrying rock arm 74 to free the roller 77 from the key 70. For i this operation the look-out arm 79 must be adjusted tolock out arm 75 and release arm 74. (Fig. 18..) -When the arm 87 is adjustedit open asdesired. In one of said adjustments the motor and transmission mechanism will cause a complete operation of the camera for each pressure upon the treadle and automatically stop the camera with its shutter closed. Inthe other adjustment a pressure upon the treadle will also causea complete operation of the camera by the motor and transmission but the camera will be. automatically' stopped with its shutter open.

The camera shaft 67 is operatively connected to the camera shutter. and to the film feed mechanism. It is frequently necessary for the operator tolookthrou'gh the camera lens in order to make a focusing adjustment thereof. For this purpose provision is made for manually rotating the shutter to an unobstructing position-without starting the.

motor. To this end the sprocket wheel 68 is loosely mounted upon the shaft67 to it to rotate independently thereof an slide longitudinally thereon. "The shaft rotates in two bearin formed-in two spaced plates 97 and 98. T e plate 97 is secured to the'outside of the camera casing and the plate 98 is rigidly connected to two rigidposts 99 extending outwardlyfromthe plate 97. The

sprocket wheel 68 is located between the two plates, and located between the said wheel and the inner plate is a gear 100 which is keyed to the shaft 67. 'This gear is adapted to mesh with internal gear teeth 101-formed in the inner face of the sprocket wheel. Between the sprocket wheel :68 and the outer plate 98 there issuficient space to permit the said wheel to be moved axially out of mesh with the gear 100 as shown in Fig. 22. Normally, however, the wheel is locked in its inner or meshing position by a latch 102 which is pivoted to the inner face of the plate 98 at one side of the shaft and is formed with an arcuate slot 103 to adapt .jt'to fold down rmit around said shaft and fill the space between the sprocket wheel and the late 98, as shown in Fig. 21. The sprocket w eel is then keyedto the shaft and it is impossible to manually turn the latter, owing ,to: the fact that the transmission mechanism, of" which the sprocket wheel is a part, is locked by the drive worm 59 upon the motor shaft. The latch is formed to'adapt it to be readily engaged and swung to its inoperative position, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 23. Inthis position forty-eight parts 10 fade out and fade in pictures. When it is desired to fade out a picture the shutter I blades are expanded "to a certain degree for each successive exposure to reduce the size of the exposure aperture and thus reduce the 15 light step by step throughout the fade out series of exposures. To fade in a picture this operation is reversed.

Theseshutter adjustments are made in the present apparatus from a point adjacent the picture-supporting platen (Figs. 1, 4, 7 and 8). Upon the table 19, near the front edge thereof and adjacent the platen, is mounted a scale plate 106, marked with a plurality of semi-circular scales 107 each provided with raduations indicating difi'erent shutter adjustments. In the present instance four scales are shown respectively indicating the fade out of a picture in one, two, three and four 30 feet of film. The standard number of exposures upon a foot of film is sixteen. Therefore the innermost, or one foot scale is divided into sixteen parts, the two foot scale a into thirty-two parts, the three foot scale into and the four foot scale into.

sixty-four parts. Rotatably mounted at the center of the scale plate is a vertical shaft 108 which extends downwardly through the table. An index member 109 is fixedto the shaft directly over the scale plate and is formed with a radially extending shank 110. 'The index member includes a point 111 slidably mounted upon the shank and carrying a catch 112 adapted to be snapped by the pressure of a 5 ring 113 into any one of a row of notches ormed in the shank, the said notches corresponding in number and'spacing to the scales 107. The pointer may, therefore, be accurately adjusted to cooperate with any one of the scales by merely depressing the point and sliding it along the shank until the catch engages the appropriate notch.

Below, the table the shaft 108 is supported in a bearing 114 and has a sprocket wheel 115 fixed to it. A shaft 116 extends throughout the length of the rear frame'member 26 and is mounted to rotate in bearings carried by said member. At its lower end the shaft 116 has a sprocket wheel 117 fixed to it, and trained about said wheel and the wheel 115 is a chain 118. At its upper end the shaft 116 has a sprocket wheel 119 fixed to it. The wheel 119 is connected by a driving chain 120 to a sprocket wheel 121 fixed ,5 to a shaft 122 extending downwardly into The camera shutter is formed with athe camera casing casing as shown in Fig. 24. 'A bevel gear 123 is fixed to the lower end of said shaft and meshes with an arcuate lever 125 pivotally mounted within the camgages in a grooved slide 126 mounted upon a shaft 127. The. slide 126 engages in a helical groove 128 formed in said shaft. Therefore, when the index knob 109 is turned the shaft 122 will be rotated, the lever 125 will be rocked and-the slide 126 will be moved along the shaft 127 to a degree dependent upon the movement of the index above the scales 107. Y

The movement of the slide 126 will rotate the shaft 127 and shift the shutter blades relatively to each other. When the index is rotated toward the 'ri ht the shutter blades will be expended and w en rotated in the o posite direction they will.be contracted. photographing a fade out series of pictures the index pointer is adjusted to one of the scales and stepped'forward one graduation for each exposure. The various parts era casing. The other armof the lever enin the operative connection between the index and the shutter blades are so-desi ed as to ensurean adjustment of the bla es corresponding to the scale graduations. It will be understood, of course, that the number of scales and the aduations thereof may be varied to suit dlfierent requirements.

Supported by the table 19 adjacent to the platen and to the scale plate 106 are a pair of counting devices 129- and 130. (Figs. 4, 5 and 6). These devices are for the purpose of registering respectively the number of exposures made and the number of feet of film which have been exposed. Each device comprises a casing formed with an upwardly directed window through which the members are visible. upon a sup ort 131 secured to the under side 0 The two devices are mounted the ta le. and are directed upwardly.

through an opening in the table. The device 129 for re 'stering the number of exposures is provide at one end with an operating gear 132. Rotatably mounted u on the support 131 is a shaft 133 upon w ich is fixed a sprocket wheel 134 and a gear wheel 135 which meshes with the gear 132. The sprocket wheel 134 is connected by means of a driving chain 136 to a sprocket wheel 137 fixed to a shaft 138. This shaft is supported in depending bearings 139 located toward the .rear edge of the table. Extending through the gear 66 carried by the sleeve 64. A rotation of said sleeve will'therefore alsocause theshaft 140 to be rotated. Fixed to the lower end of the shaft 140 is a gear 147. This driving chain 152 to another sprocket Wheel 153 fixed to the shaft 138. Since this shaft also carries the sprocket wheel 137 connected to the counting device 129, each rota- -tion of the sleeve 64 for an exposure opera tion of the camera will cause the counting device to register.

The shaft 133 alongside the counting devices also has a bevel gear 154 fixed to it and meshing with a gear 155. The latter gear is fixed upon a shaft 156 rotatably supported by the support 131 and having;v a worm 157 fixed to it. The worm meshes with an op: erating gear 158 vwith which the footage counter 130 is'provided. The transmission gearing between the sleeve 64 at the top of the frame and the counting device 129 is so desi ned that for each exposure operation of t e sleeve the counting device will register oiie unit. The gearing between the shaft 133 and the counting device 130 is'designed so that said device will register one unit each time one foot of film has been exposed. Since each foot of film accommodates sixteen exposures the device 130 will register only 'one unit for each sixteen units reg'stered by the device 129.

otatably supported by the counter support 131. are two short vertical shafts 159 and 160. F ixed to the shaft 159 is abevel gear 161 adapted to mesh with a gear 162 with V which the exposure counter 129 is provided.

The shaft 159 is slidably supported and is provided with an operating ob 163 at its ower end. Normally the shaft gravitates to its lower position so that. its gear 163 is out of mesh with the counter gear 162. This gearing is provided for clearing the counting devicel By elevating the shaft to mesh thev gears, and then turning knob the device is I cleared of numbers and restored to zero.

The shaft 160 is also slidably supported and carries. a, similar gear and kno 164 and 165 respectively. This gear 164 is adapted to be moved up into mesh with a gear 166 with which the footage counter'is provided.

- fiBy turning theknob thev foota e counter is then restoredto zero- Thus eit er counting device may be cleared of numbers independently of the other.

I Each sheet of plate 29 mounted upon the upwardly converging frame members 20 is formed with a rectangular central'opening. Mounted upon the outer side of each plate 29 to cover said opening is an'opaque hoodlike casing 167 This casing is slightly larger than the plate opening and is secured to the plate around the margins of the opening. Extending entirely across the area of the openin and concealing the interior of the casing is arectangular translucent glass plate 168. (Fig. 1). This plate is preferably of the kindlknown as flash opal glass. Mounted within the casing is a mercury vapor lamp 169. The glass plate is preferably removably mounted to give access to the lamp. At its upper and lower ends the casing 167 is formed with ventilating openings 170 to conduct the heat of the lamp away from the glass plateand thus divert it from an operator at the platen and enable him to,

work in more comfort. The casing, the glass plate and the enclosed lamp from a lighting unit to illuminate a picture placed upon the platen to be photographed. There are two of these units located at opposite sides of the platen and directed downwardly and inwardly. They are-supported by the upwardly converging frame members at such an angle as to fully illuminate a; picture upon the platen and still avoid an objectionable 'reflection of light to the camera from the glass presser plate 47 through which the picture is photographed. The translucent plates 168 cause .a proper diffusion of light rays, protect the operator from the glare of the lamps and also shield him from the heat. Electrically connected to each lainp is a current regulating device 171 known as an auxiliary.

These devices are sup orted by the table at the underside thereo Switches 172 are mounted upon the table for opening'and closing the lamp circuits.

Two pictureholding units 173 are mounted upon the front osts 2 of the frame to swing horizontally. ach unit comprises a plurality of vertically spaced shelves rigidly attached to a vertical strip 174. This strip is attached to the frame post by two vertically to rest upon'a rubber tipped stop 176 mount-' ed upon the rear web 27 ofthe' frame. The first picture sheet is placed upon the compressible pad ofthe platen with the rigid projections 42 extending through the apertures of the sheet. These apertures and proections are designed to accurately center the sheet with relationto the camera lens. The presser device is then lowered and the glass plate 47 is pressed against the picture sheet to flatten it against the pad. In order to obtain the best results it isextremel important that the sheet be pressedabso utely flat owing to the fact that even a ver slight bulge in the sheet will be registere in the exposure and appear very conspicuously in the greatly magnified projected icture. Many of the pictures are execute upon sheets of transparent celluloid having a bright reflectin surface, and a bulge therein will create a big light which is reflected into 15, the camera lens.

It is a standard practice in photographing animated pictures to superpose several pictures for a single exposure. For example, a base picture representing a background is first placed'upon the platen and then a series of plctures representing a moving objectin different positions are placed in proper sequence upon the base sheet and photographed successively with it. In such cases I -itiS ordinarily extremely difiicult to flatten outboth superposed pictures. The present platen structure has been designed to accomplish this with a minimum exercise of effort and care on the part of the operator. To this end the platen structure is provided with the compressible pad 47 and the adjustable support for said pad. This su ort is independently adjustable at each o its four cor ners to bring the picture sheets into proper relation to the glass presser plate and compensate for sheets made of different stock and different area. Owing to the coo eration of the compressible pad and the a usting means only a slight pressure is required 40 to entirely flatten the sheets, the me'reweightv of the presser device or lid being often sufii- 'cient to hold them flat while they are photographed.

The .platen structure also renders it possi-' 'ble to use the index member or pointer as shown in Fig. 12. This member is inserted beneath the retaining stri 51, clamped in place by the nut 53, and fol ed down w1th the lid to overlie a picture and form part of it.

50 It is frequently desirabletouse a pointer in Y a scientific or educational picture to direct attention to a particular object or spot throughout a series of ictures After an exposure of the picture t e lid is raised and the picture removed. The pointer is carried by the lid'and is swung with it clear of the picture. If the pointer is to follow up a moving object it may be shifted to the proper degree for each successive plcture. By using 69 a single pointer in this manner the labor of executing a representation of a ointer upon perhaps hundreds or thousan s of successive pictures is avoided. The platen structure provides for the flattening of the polnter C5 and the sheet which it overlies.

When one or-more pictures have been flattened upon the platen, the. operator ste s upon the treadle to connect the motorto t 1e the desired number of ex osures have been made the lid is raised an the picture is removed and placed in the shelf unit located at the opposite side of the apparatus from the unit containing the unphotograpppd pictures, to prevent the pictures from oming mixed. The entire series of pictures is photographed-in this manner, each ex osure be- 99 ing registered by the device 129 an each foot of film being registered by the device 130. These devices are conveniently located directly beneath the eye of the operator and in a position to be illuminated by the light- 1 'ing units. The shutter adjusting means 106--112 is also conveniently located and well illuminated.

In orderto produce various animated effects and also to reduce the enormous amount of labor required in the making of an animated picture the operator at the camera frequently resorts to clever juggling of the pictures to various positions upon their support. Itis often particularly desirable to reverse a icture from front to rear. For this reason, 1n the present apparatus, the picture support (including the frame 34, the" plate 41 and the pad 43) is loosely mounted and reversible as a unit to the position indicated in Fig. 12. The picture engaging projections 42 are now disposed at the front edge of the platen to hold the picturesheet in a reversed position. The glass presser plate 47 is provided with the forwardly located apertures 49 to provide clearance for the projections 42 in thisposition. Thus in either position of the picture support the presser plate will bear upon the entire surface of the picture sheet and flatten its entire area.

It may be desirable occasionally to provide a larger field than the laten will permit. In

that case the laten lid is closed and a drawing board B or like support placed upon the lid as shown in Fig. 9. In order to properly position said board with relation to the camera, the under face of the board is provided with two rigid projections 179 s aced and formed to enter the holes 52 in the rame of the platen lid, through which the bolts 52 tend. These bolts and the strip 51 are resupporting plate 41 therefor are removed and a plate 180 formed of translucent glass is inserted'to take the place of the removed plate. A projecting machine 181 is placed beneath the said translucent plate and directed up-.

wardly. The frame 1 and the platen structure are designed to provide clearance for the projector and also to leave the plate 180 unobstructed from the point of view of the projector. A film containing a series of base pictures is placed in the projector and said pictures are projected one at a time uponthe translucent plate 180. Each projected picture will be visible at the upper face of the plate and will serve as a base upon which a picture element 182 representing a moving object or the like .may be superposed. The.

projected base picture and the superposed picture element are then photographed together upon a film within the elevated camera 57. A series of projected base pictures are in this manner photographed and the picture element 182 is advanced in successive pictures across the view to produce an animated effect. This method avoids the labor of making a series of base or background pictures for the moving object. v It also makes it possible introduce an animated object into a motion picture which was not originally prepared for that purpose.

In Fig. 26 is diagrammatically shown a use of the apparatus for carrying out anothermethor of animated picture production. The camera is here removed and a projecting ma- .chine is placed upon the elevated platform to occupy the position of the camera. Any suitable means is placed upon the platen structure'to serve as a projection screen 183 inline with the projector. A film containing a series of basevpictures is placed in the projector and projected upon the screen. Upon the'projected picture asa base an animated picture is, executed. A series of animated pictures may be thus made showing'the ob ect advanced in successive pictures, the projected base pictures serving as a guide forexecut- 1 ing and positioning the animated elements.

;cess to the interior thereof.

The structure of the camera 57 is designed, to prevent the exposure of the film when the casing is opened. (Figs. 27-32 The camera casing is provided with a door 184 to give" ac- Removably mounted within the upper portion'of the casing are two box-like magazines 185 to .house I the film reels. These boxes 185 are rigidly connected together at the top by a metal plate 186 which holds them slightly spaced re lation. Pivota-lly mounted at 197 between the casing, and hold. the door closed.

boxes is a lever 188 disposed substantially vertically. At their under sides the boxes are formed with film slots 189 located adjacent the gap between the boxes. This gap is bridged by a slide plate 190 designed to cover the slots 189. The slide plate is held to the under side of the boxes by screws'191 extending through its ends and said ends are point adjacent the top of the boxes and is forwardly curved. The leveris also formed with an arm 196 which extends rearwardly from the lever pivot or fulcrum 197. A contractile spring 198 connects the arm 196 to the top. plate 186 and tendsto swing the lever to the position shown in Fig. 30 w1th its lower endshifted rearwardly and its upper end shifted forwardly. In this position of the lever its operative connection with the slide 190 holdsthe latter in its left hand position, as shownin Fig. 28, due to the angular arra ngement of the slot 193. In this position of the slide the magazine slots are closed and the film F, where it emerges from said slots, is folded against the under sides of. the boxes by the slide and passes out through the slots 192 which are out of alinement with the slots 189. The film within the magazine boxes is then protected from the light and it is safe to open the camera door.

' The camera door is hinged to the casing at its lower edge. The door, upon its outer face and adjacent its upper edge has two parallel vertical guides 199 secured to it. Mounted to slide between the said guides is a bolt 200 which when moved upwardly is adapted to pass through a slotted keeper plate 201, secured to the top of the 'cambegla e t is provided with a knob 202 for s 'fting it. Rigidly carried by the bolt intermediate its length is a cam projection 203'- which extends inwardly through a slot 204 in the door andinto the space between the magazine boxes to ister the slots 189 and192, as shown in Fig. 27, to permit the film to pass freely. When the door is to be opened the bolt must first'be retracted. This releases the lever andv rmits the spring to instantly rock it and the plate 190 to its slot-closing position. There is no danger of an exposure of the film within the magazine when the door is opened.

. Therefore the door may .be opened with perfeet safety for the purpose of adjusting'the camera mechanism or renfoving the magazine boxes. When the boxes are removed the film slots remain closed. Each box is provided with a hinged door and each door is provided at its lower edge with a guide member 205. These guide members engage one edge of the slide 190 and help to support it closely against the under faces of the boxes.

It will be seen that the hotographing apparatus has been designed throughout to facilitate the extremely laborious work of photographing the great number of pictures regun'ed to roduce an animated film. It is esigned a so to improve the quality of the hotography. The entire apparatus is in the orm of a compact unit which may be moved about a studio without disarranging any of the mechanisms. It is also designedto be operated, by a single operator who remains atone point in frontof the apparatus, is protected from the heat and glare of the illuminating means, and has the various operating members of the apparatus within easy reach and directly under his observation.

What I claim is;-

1. In a picture photographing apparatus, means to support a picture sheet. for photo-. graphing it, comprising an outer frame defin mg a rectangular opening; a rectangular in ner frame removably fittingin saidopening and defining a rectangular aperture, the ins ner frame being formed with a countersunk ledge at the edges of its aperture; a flat plate supported by said ledge and closing the aperture; independently adjustable supporting posts threaded upwardly through t e outer frame and loosely supporting the inner frame adjacent its four corners; a lurality of up standing projections carrie by the inner frame adjacent one ed of said plate; 'a pad of compressible material extendmg over the plate and the inner frame and formed with openings to receive said projections, the projections extending through the pad to enter openings in a picture sheet u on the pad and. hold the sheet in place; a ame hinged to one side of the outer frame to fold down over the tap thereof; and a glass presser plate carri by said hinged frame to flatten the icture sheet against the pad, the inner frame ing reversible from front to rear and the glass late being formed with. openings to 'provi e clearance for the said pro ections in either position of the inner e.

2. Ih a picture 'photographmg'apparatus,'

prosts threaded upwardly through plate and supp .with the plate to hold a picture sheet upon means to support a picture sheet for photographing it, comprising a frame defimng an opening; a flat plate disposed in said open,-

ing; independently adjustable supporting t e sai ame and loosely supporting the said plate adjacent its edges; a plurality of projections supported with the plate and'extendmg upwardly adjacent one edge thereof; a pad of compressible material extending over the plate and'supported b it and formed with openings to receive sai projections the projections extending upwardly through the pad to enter openings in a picture sheet upon the pad and hold the sheet in place; and a glass presser plate hinged to one side of the outer frame to fold down and flatten the picture sheet against the pad, the pad-supporting plate and projections being reversible from ront to rear and the glass plate being formed with openings to provide clearance for the said projections in either position of the inner frame.

3. In a picture. photographing apparatus, means to support a picture sheet for photographing it, comprising a rigid plate; means shi ably supporting said plate; a pad of compressible material extending over said the pad against lateral displacement; and a glass presser plate hingedly mounted adja cent one edge of said pa and adapted to fold down over the pad and flatten thepicture sheet against it, said rigid plate, pad and sheet-holding means bein reversible as a unit from front to rear and e glass plate being formal to provide clearance for the sheetholding means in either position of said unit.

4. In a motion picture photographing apparatus a rot'atably mounted member adapted to be manually o ratedto ad ust a camera orted by it; 'means supported I shutter; a plurality of scale extending con- Y oentricall'y around the axis of said adjusting members and each rovided with a series of duations indicating different shutter adustments, the graduationsof the scales bedifierently spaced; a radiallyad'ustable pointer carried by said shutter-a justing member and adapted to be adjusted to cooperate with any one of said scales; and an operative connection between the shutter-adjusting member and the shutter blades of the camera to relatively adjust said blades.

5. An apparatus for photographing animated pictures complrising a frame; a picture support carried by t e frame to support a picture sheet; acamera sup rt earned by the fram e to support a motion picture camera aeed from t e picture support and directe toward the sheet; a normally inoperative power transmission mechanism carried by the frame to connect a motor to'thecamera to efiect the film feed and shutter operation thereof;'means shiftable at will render the for the passage of the film;a slide mounted.

transmission means 0 rative fortaking a photograph; automatic means to limit the camera operation to a single exposure after an operation of said shiftable means; and manually adjustable means to cause the camera to stop .automatically in either shutter open position or shutter closed position after an operation of the shiftable means.

6. Acamera comprising a casing having a door; a pair of j film magazines remova ly mounted in said casing and formed with slots upon said magazines and adapted to 0 en and close the film slots of both; a rocka le member mounted between the magazines and operatively connected to said slide; a shiftable locking device carried by the door to hold it closed; and means carried by said locking device to engage and rock said rockable member and move the slide to uncover thefilm slots when the deviceis moved to locking position; and means to automatically move .the slide to close the slots when the lockin device is retracted to unlock the door;

7. A unitary apparatus for photogra hing animated pictures comprising a rigi upstanding frame; a picture sup ort carriedby said frame intermediate the eight thereof and adapted to support a picture sheet directed upwardly; a camera support carried by the frame above the picture support to hold a motion picture camera directed downward:

ly toward the supported picture sheet illuminating means carried by the frame and disposed. to illuminate the supported picture sheet; power operated means carried by the frame to drive the camera; foot-operated means tofcontrol said camera-driving means; and means carried by the frame and manually operable from a point adjacent the picture sup ort to relatively adjust the shutter blades 0 the camera for fade out and fade in photography.

' cooperation of t upon the 8. In a picture photographing apparatus,

means to support a picture sheet for photoaphlng it, comprising a rigid support; a

. at, compressible, rubber pad supported-by said support'and formed with a smooth, flat surface to receive a picture sheet against it; a flat, transparent glass presser plate shiftably mounted for pressing and flattening a picture sheet a ainst the smooth surface of the ad, where y the flattened picture may means to support a picture sheet for photographing it comprising a flat, rigid support;

a rigid frame; a plurality of posts threadedthrough said frame and adjustabl supporting said flat support adjacent t e corners thereof; a flat, compressible, rubber pad supported upon the rigid, flatsupport and formed with a smooth, flat surface to receive the picture sheet against it; and a flat, transarent, glass. presser plate hinged to the ri 'd rame at one side of the pad and'adapt to fold over the pad and flatten a picture sheet against it, the threaded posts being adapted for bodily and tiltably adjusting the rigid pad sup ort toward and from the presser, plate to ring the pad into a proper cooperation with the plate.

10. In a picture photographing apparatus, means to support a picture sheet for photographing it comprisin a'flat, rigid support;

a flat, compressible, ru ber pad supported by said rigid support and formed with a smooth, flat face to receive a picture sheet against it;

a flat, transparent, glass resser plate hinged to fold over the pad an flatten the picture sheet against it; means to relatively adjust the. pad and the plate to obtain a proper cooperation of their opposed surfaces to flatten the sheet; and sheet-holding and positioning means to pro erly position the sheet u on the pad face with re ation to the presser p ate, whereby the picture may be photographed through the plate in proper position. f

11. In an animated picture making apparatus, means to support a picture sheet for hotographing it comprising a flat rigid rame defining an opening; means for adjusting and positioning saidrigid frame; a flat, rigid late removably supported by the frame, flus with the latter and closing the opening); a flat, compressible, rubber pad remova ly supported by the flush surfaces of said frame and plate and formed with a flat,

smooth face-to receive a picture sheet against it; a shiftable, flat, transparent glass presser late to cover the picture sheet and flatten it against the pad; and means carried by said frame to position and hold the picture sheet upon the. ad for photographingthe picture through t e transparent presserplate.

ing, a plate formed of material admitting the passage of. light directed toward theupper sur e of the picture support, and a.

marginal heat shield extending around said light-admitting wall, the casing being formed with ventilated openings outwardly of said shield away from the picture su port, whereby the wall and the shield will mitting the passa e of light forming one wall of the casing, irected toward the upper surface of the picture support, and a marg1- nal heat shield extending around said lightadmitting wall, the casings of the two illuminating units being formed with ventilating openings located outwardly of the shields away from the picture support, whereby the said shields and light-admitting walls of the two units protect an operator at the picture support between the units from the heat of the lamps.

14. In an animated picture photographing v apparatus, a device tosupport a picture sheet comprising a flat, compressible pad, and a ri id support for said pad; a glass plate a :fipted to be pressed down upon said pad to atten a picture sheet against it; a picture element clip; and means supporting said clip on the under side of the said glass plate near one edge thereof, whereby a picture element may be secured by said clip to extend between the plate and the pad and appear through the plate and may be shifted away from the pad with the plate when the latter is raised. I

15. In an animated picture photographing apparatus, a device to support a picture sheet com rising a flat, compressible pad, and a ri'gi support for: said pad; a presser device for pressing a picture sheet flat against said pad comprisin arigid frame hinged at one side of said picture supporting device, and

a glass presser plate mounted in said frame; a clip carried b the frame to detachably and adjustably ho d a picture element to the presser device extending across the under face of the plate, whereby said element may be pressed against the pad or an interposed picture sheet thereon, will appear through the plate for photographing and will swing with the plate away om the pad; and a handle carried by the presser frame adjacent said clip for applying pressure to the late ang forcing the picture element towar the pa 16. In an animated picture photographing apparatus, a device to support a picture sheet comp a flat compressible rubber pad, and a rig'1d support for said pad' a'presser device for pressing a picture sheet against said pad comprising a rigid frame hin ed at one side of said picture-supportin evice, and a glass presser plate mounte in sand frame; and a clip carried by the frame to detachably hold a picture element to the presser device extending across the under face of the plate, whereby said element may be pressed against the pad or an interposed picture sheet thereon, will appear through the plate for photographing and will swing with the plate away from the pad.

17. In a icture photographing apparatus, a flat yiel able and resilient support for a picture sheet; upstanding sheet-retaining projections supported in laterally fixed positions and extendin above the sheet-receiving surface of sai support to engage in openings in a margin of the picture sheet and hold the sheet against edgewise displacement; and a rigid transparent presser plate shiftably mounted for pressing and flattenin the picture sheet against said support, said plate being formed with openings to provide clearance for said projections and enable the plate to bear against said margin close to the projections and depress the margin evenly with the body of the sheet to prevent tearing of the sheet on said projections.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

ARTHUR WILTSEE CARPENTER. 

